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Standing ovation for McConaughey at Toronto

The Associated Press

Posted:
09/08/2013 10:00:23 AM MDT

Updated:
09/08/2013 10:04:05 AM MDT

Actors Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey arrive at the premiere of "Dallas Buyers Club" on day 3 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 in Toronto (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

TORONTO (AP) - The Toronto International Film Festival greeted Matthew McConaughey with a rousing standing ovation for his performance in "Dallas Buyers Club."

The film premiered Saturday night, giving the moviegoing world its first glimpse of McConaughey's highly-anticipated performance as a Texas man diagnosed with HIV in the 1980s. Based on the true story of Ron Woodroof, the film follows his frustration with the Food and Drug Administration and his enterprising smuggling of more promising drugs.

For the role, McConaughey lost nearly 50 pounds (22.5 kilograms), and appears startlingly gaunt throughout the film. After the film, though, McConaughey told the audience his weight loss wasn't the hard part.

"That was the easy decision," he said. "I would have been embarrassed standing here looking like I do now playing the guy."

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